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The Preeclampsia Foundation does not necessarily endorse any research or news found in this forum, we just want to share what is out there. Please use your own discretion to evaluate any information you find here.

The thing is, researchers are checking to see if folic acid helps somehow - but no one really expects a single-molecule therapy to help at this stage of our understanding. There *is* something wonky about the way that pathway is behaving in our pregnancies, but epigenetics is complex stuff and it will take more poking at the problem to figure out how to address it theraputically.

Caryn, @carynjrogers, who is not a doctor and who talks about science stuff *way* too much DS Oscar born by emergent C-section at 34 weeks for fetal indicators, due to severe PEDD Bridget born by C-section after water broke at 39 weeks after a healthy pregnancy

Yes thanks for adding that warning.... I wasn't recommending taking more folic acid than what would already be present in a pre-natal vitamin. Unless you are taking higher doses under your doctor's supervision or recommendation for an underlying medical condition.

(Inserting usual "don't experiment on yourself" caveat here - talk to your docs about supplements. The official NICE guideline .pdf says not to take extra folic acid solely for the purposes of trying to prevent hypertension in pregnancy, and similar guidelines are being worked up in the US. All this preliminary stuff could pan out just like vitamin C and E did, and no one wants to get sicker, quicker.)

Caryn, @carynjrogers, who is not a doctor and who talks about science stuff *way* too much DS Oscar born by emergent C-section at 34 weeks for fetal indicators, due to severe PEDD Bridget born by C-section after water broke at 39 weeks after a healthy pregnancy

"... the VCU team reported that thromboxane synthase â€“ an important inflammatory enzyme â€“ is increased in the blood vessels of expectant mothers with preeclampsia... This enzyme results in the synthesis of thromboxane, which increases blood pressure and causes blood clots."

â€œThe present work is unique because it opens up a new concept as to the cause and subsequent consequences of preeclampsia relating to epigenetics,â€ said corresponding author Scott W. Walsh, Ph.D., professor in the VCU Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. â€œIt is the first study to show that epigenetic alterations in the blood vessels of the mother are related to preeclampsia.â€

According to Walsh, one of the main epigenetic mechanisms is methylation of the DNA, which controls the expression of genes. The increase of this enzyme in the blood vessels is related to reduced DNA methylation and the infiltration of neutrophils into the blood vessels. Neutrophils are white blood cells that normally help fight infection.

In the future, Walsh said some potential treatments for preeclampsia may include inhibition of thromboxane synthase, blockade of thromboxane receptors or dietary supplementation with folate. He said that folate supplementation could increase methylation donors to protect against adverse changes in DNA methylation that affect expression of the thromboxane synthase enzyme."

Even though this study has a lot of "coulds" it is an interesting new avenue of research. And possibly another reason to take folic acid or folate during pregnancy.